The Pros and Cons of Learner-Centered vs Teacher-Centered Pedagogies

This essay discusses the pros and cons of learner-centered versus teacher-centered pedagogies in education. It explores two data sources that highlight the benefits and drawbacks of each approach, as well as methods to alter the school curriculum. The essay emphasizes the importance of developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills in learners to prepare them for the 21st-century job market.

Running Head: TEACHER AS PRACTITIONER AND RESEARCHER 1
THE PROS AND CONS OF LEARNER-CENTERED VERSUS TEACHER CENTRED
PEDAGOGIES AND PRACTICE
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Institution of Affiliation
Date

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Introduction
The rapid development of the world as a result of advancing information communication
and technology is increasing continuing to alter individuals’ lifestyle and mode of working. This
means that learners need to profoundly get skills in school that will enable them to fit in both the
competitive employment market as well as capable of solving problems in society. The approach
used in schools as a method of instruction should be one that enhances the learner skill, such that
learners’ are able to think critically, innovate and solve problems arising in daily life. Therefore,
there is an agreement amongst education managers, academics and learners that school
curriculum is supposed to be restructured to suit the requirement of the 21st century (Blumberg,
2019).
The question of teaching approach whether to be learner-centered or teacher centered has
been raised over time and it shows that both strategies have merits and demerits. The topic to be
discussed in this essay is the pros and cons of learner-centered versus teacher centered
pedagogies and practice. The chief portion of this essay will highlight two principal data sources
that are utilized to outline the pros and cons of learner-centered versus teacher-centered approach
as methods of instruction both in Australia and globally (van de Kuilen et al, 2019). Intense
analysis of the two data sources is done to evaluate its association and correctness for the
purpose of this study. Secondly, the essay will highlight two methods that can be implemented to
alter the school curriculum and a confab on some chief implications to both teaching and
learning in the classroom.

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Data source one
The first data is sourced from international journal of education of educational improvement
written by Jenny Martin who works in an Australian Catholic university in Victoria, and Donna
King at Queensland University. The journal written and published this year 2019, the main focus
is to sightsee how learner-centred pedagogy (LCP) can be of great benefit and consider adoption.
The report that learner-centred method does not exclude the teacher but such setting stimulates a
more collaborative strategy for learners to study. Van de Kuilen, Altinyelken, Voogt, &
Nzabalirwa explains in their research that in the LCP method of instruction, the teacher acts as a
facilitator, giving advice as well as answering questioned when necessary. The approach gives
the student the chance to select on how to study, reason as to why they should learn that way as
well as who should supervise them. Additionally, it allows learners to construct their
understanding through their involvements and activities.
Student-centred pedagogy is established on democratic ethics and constructivism, learners draw
conclusions depending on what they study in a classroom setting to develop critical thinking
skills. The researchers’ explains that, in learner-centered pedagogy, “We plan with the student
instead of for the student”. This basically means becoming alert of learners need and ensuring
that they actively participate in the teaching process actively (Tao, & Xie, 2019).
Learner-centered teaching techniques can take several practical procedures in the
schoolroom. That's what the infographic by a researcher from Island's Mia MacMeekin outlines
in a very clear manner. MacMeekin infographic is meek, tidy, and steadily filled with everlasting
delicacies of wisdom which make every teacher's work tranquil and extra pleasurable. The
researcher tries to display the best strategies that teachers can use to practice the most engaging
student-centered as a method of instruction.

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Student-centered instruction eradicates the fear out of novel scholarship and creates a welcoming
environment to every learner, showing them that they matter a lot and they are capable of
succeeding. This approach gives learners’ interest priority as well as a voice during the learning
process. The design of this approach is to shift the mandate for learning from teacher to learner.
Hence, the instruction strategy allows the learner to develop autonomy and sovereign critical
thinking as well as problem deciphering abilities. Learner-centered approach when well utilized
in the teaching environment is able to prepare students’ to work in the 21st-century job market
demands.
Data source two
The second source of the data is from an article written by Hamdi Serin from Ishik
University from research based on comparing teacher-centered and learner-centered approaches
in learning to set. The article titled international journal of social sciences and education studies
outlines that an instruction to assist learners to gain more understanding and advance their
abilities, it is important to be aware of how to motivate them.
The author explains that it is impossible to anticipate learners who are not motivated to attain
their goals. Motivation is considered to be an inseparable reason in facilitating learners’
achievement. It is important to note that motivation plays a key role in creating a podium in
which learning is everlasting. On the side technology, it brings an insight that the fruitful
entrenching of technology within the educational environment has enhanced the teaching
profession successfully and competently to vintage extra positive results.
The persistent usage of the technical outfit’s transversely in scholastic institutes offers
chances to advance the abilities of learners further. Technology in teaching and learning is

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favourable to realizing educational goals. The article focus on something beyond teacher-
centered and learner-centered pedagogy. The table below provides some of the comparisons of
the learner/teacher-centered approach as outlined in the article:
Teacher-Centered Learner-Centered
Emphasis is on teacher Emphasis is on both learners and teacher
Attention is on verbal methods and edifices
Center is on linguistic usage in classic
circumstances
Instructor talks; students listen
Instructor models; students interact with the
instructor and one another
Learners work alone
Learners work in couples, in clusters, or
unaccompanied subject to the tenacity of the
activity
Instructor observers and rectifies every
scholar expression
Learners talk minus constant instructor
observing; teacher offers
comment/rectification when queries arise
The teacher replies learners’ queries about Learners reply to each other’s queries, using

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language the teacher as a material resource
Teacher selects topics Scholars have some selection of topics
Teacher weighs student learning
Scholars weigh their own learning; the
teacher also evaluates
Tutorial room is silent Tutorial room is habitually loud and eventful
The learner-centered approach in schoolroom has currently challenged teacher-centered
by giving learners the opportunity to come up with knowledge using their experiences as well as
activities. Educators continuously endeavor to look for an effective approach to using in the
classroom to enhance excellent and valuable teaching and learning. Traditional approaches have
received criticism overtime for not establishing a learning setting that facilitates the development
of vital skills that every modern learner should possess (Zhou, Chen, & Chen, 2019).
Data source three
The third data source is from a book written by Jeffrey, & Clark, (2019) which gives a
detailed description of what teacher-centered approach entails and it entitled international journal
of contemporary education. The approach depends on the behaviorist theory that is founded on
the perception that behavior alterations are proved by external stimuli. In accordance with the
behaviorist concepts, learners are do not participate so much and react to environmental stimuli.
The teacher in such a case is responsible for learning. Hence, the teacher is expected to transmit

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knowledge to the learners. There is no collaboration between student and teacher since the
instructor bears the ultimate authority.
The content is selected by the teacher as well as learning activities including how they
will take place. The lesson is conducted via lecturing and provision of response and right
answers are greatly utilized. The instructor is the initial source of data and textbook is the core of
all actions (Mesquita et al, 2019).
The research shows that in the usual teacher-centered classroom, much time is spent in
presenting daily content to the learners from the whiteboard. Teacher-centered has several
disadvantages one being favoring lazy and passive learners instead of active ones in class. It is
better for every educationist to know that the core goal in the classroom is to endow learning.
Instructors need to maintain control over learner’s as well as ensuring that all learners are
actively involved in the learning process. This shows that teacher-centered approach of teaching
is not the best at all. Instructors need to be knowledgeable in subject matter and apply motivating
methods while in classroom teaching practice (Kassam et al, 2019). The article explains that
students who are able to be attentive and actively participating in the actual lesson presentations.
The instructor transmits knowledge directly to the learners in the teacher-centered method. On
the other hand, learner-centered classroom teaching practice, instructor avoids direct passing of
the knowledge.
Research shows that learners who have undergone a teacher-centered method of
instruction for the rest of the learning sessions may pass well in the examination. However, when
it comes to performing the actual practical work, they are not able to work effectively.
Employers have complained of this issue over time where they get learners who have good

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certificates but cannot work in the field as expected in comparison to their performance. So,
teacher-centered have a higher number of cons than pros comparing it with the learner-centered
approach. Therefore, practical work and involvement of learners in the learning process is the
best strategy that can help produce competent learners who can fit in the job market (Zhou, &
Chen, 2019).
Classroom teaching practice example one
With an aim of making sure that students are well equipped with skills required in the
competitive job market in the world as well as challenges in both career and world, it is vital that
they become endowed with transferable skills. For instance, problem-handling, business
education, creative thinking and minds that can critically face the daily challenges in life.
Therefore, a good teaching approach should be exercised in the pedagogy of teaching effectively
and efficiently, where the instructors should think of the best ways to deal with the learners. The
skill can be impacted via adopting a learner-centered pedagogical method, where learners are
offered chances to construct an understanding and gain knowledge by their own. Teacher acting
as a facilitator (Richmond et al, 2019).
All the science subject that require so many practicals, the learners can perform the
practical first, then the observations made during the actual practice can be discussed. The work
of the teacher is to supervise the learners as they do the practical as well as ensuring that they
have the required material in the required quantity. Additionally, the teacher should ensure that
rules to be adhered to when using laboratory materials are known to learners and the discipline of

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high standards is maintained. The concepts of the practices that have already been performed,
should then be presented later (Sandilos, Whittaker, Vitiello, & Kinzie, 2019).
This is contrary to what teachers mostly do in the actual, pedagogical approach, where
instructors start by teaching the concept and later carry out the practical. For instance, in
chemistry subject, one of the practical conducted is the reaction of Alkaline earth metals with
dilute acids. Product expected is metal salt and hydrogen gas regardless of the type of acid and
metal type. Instructors, in this case, are supposed to carry out practical with the class, make
observations and then test for the presence of hydrogen gas. By doing this, learners are allowed
to physically manipulate the practical materials, make an observation and develop skills on how
one can handle chemicals (Tseng, Yeh, & Tang, 2019).
Another skill developed is observation skills since the learners themselves are able to
give suggestions depending on what they view. The learner-centered approach reduces boredom
and discourages learners from being passive in the learning process. Also, the fear of
manipulating chemicals is eradicated since most of the learners can end up in industries which
demand that they know how to handle the chemicals and now the use of each apparatus (Ödalen
et al, 2019).
Classroom teaching practice example two
Another pedagogical approach is can be implemented apart from learner-centered is
inquiry method which is one of the strategies that offer equal emphasizes to the process of
disseminating knowledge as well as subject matter (Wheeler, Chiu, Maeng, & Bell, 2019). It
provides an opportunity for the learners to develop collaborating, communicating, analyzing,
reflecting as well as mental skills. In order to implement this, instructors should need to be well

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informed of the best method they can use while developing the lesson in the actual classroom
teaching.
One of the key factors that teachers should know is how to create an environment where
learners have a culture of curiosity, organizational control of groups and respectful conversation.
Every educator should have higher in-depth knowledge of the content in the respective area of
specialization and be at a position to use the resources as well as time wisely (Mercuri, 2019).
Learners also need continuous motivation irrespective of the method of approach used. Studies
reveal that most learners fail to get the concept not because they are not wise but they lack
motivation (Lamichhane, 2019). Instructors should consider that to be the chief role in their
profession even as they deliver other content-based information.
Every competent instructor must possess skills and knowledge to be sensitive to learners
needs concerning class work and issues of life that learners can be undergoing back at home.
Inquiry approach requires that the instructor become approachable and friendly so that learners
can be free to ask whatever they may need assistance. Additionally, educators can use a project-
based approach where learners are allowed to come up with a solution of a certain problem in
society (Nagabhatla et al, 2019).
The project approach targets learners by involving them in authentic learning expositions
in and beyond the schoolroom. The project method is interdisciplinary and concentrates on
active, learner- self-driven learning. It acts as the best tool for developing problem-solving,
creativity and collaboration that are greatly valued abilities by digital employers. As with the
inquiry method, project method needs that the instructor develops the same set of skills
(Goldman et al, 2019). It also demands that the instructor establish close operational
relationships with local groups and society.

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Conclusion
In every knowledge impacting an institution, instructors should be creative in devising
strategies of making the learners interested in learning. The essay has discussed in details the
concepts pertaining pros and cons of learner-centered verses teacher-centered instruction
approach strategy. Specifically, three major source of data discussed and the major information
provided in those articles concerning the approaches of teaching.
The other part of the essay outlines the classroom teaching practice strategies that are the
best to use in order to ensure that learners develop vital skills. The skills considered to be vital
for learners in the modern world include critical thinking, problem-solving and creative abilities
to deal with challenges of daily life. The approaches highlighted with their benefits include
learner-centered. Inquiry method and project-based approach. Research reveals that if such
methods are practiced in teaching pedagogy, the world we go a step forward.

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